~~~SisterSea~~~

First Reading:   Isaiah 9:2-7 Second Reading:   Titus 2:11-14 Gospel:   Luke 2:1-17 Last year at this time, all the hype about the Mayan prophecy served to divert the attention of many people.   In our part of the world at this time of year, every year, the diversion of shopping occupies people’s attention.   Today’s first reading contains another diversion, one of omission.   The omission is of this verse:   “For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.”   This verse is immediately precedes the announcement of the child who has been born to us, named Wonderful Counsellor, and Prince of Peace.   People of faith must address people’s fears about apocalyptic diversions like Y2K and the Mayan prophecy.   This takes time away from raising people’s awareness of very real impending catastrophes such as global warming and dwindling potable water re...

This Sunday I didn't write a homily because what Marcus Borg wrote in Thinking About Advent was something I thought the community would benefit from hearing.  See you next time, Blessed Advent.

Feast of Christ the King - 24 November 2013 First reading: 2 Samuel 5.1-3 Second reading: Colossians 1.12-20 Gospel: Luke 23.35-43 For a long time now, the Feast of Christ the King has bothered me.   I wasn’t sure why.   Then one year, I think it was part of the 2000 Jubilee celebrations, the Feast of Christ the King was celebrated by whole the diocese at the Italian Centre near the PNE.   The homilist was extolling how the kingship of Christ was so different from earthly kings.   The words of the homily spoke of seeking heavenly riches instead of earthly riches.   These words were almost comical as the sunlight beamed on the sparkling jewels of the Eparchial Bishop’s mitre.   The theme of Jubilee is to release people from bondage and to let the Earth rest.   If we contrast West Georgia Street between Granville and Denman and East Georgia Street between Columbia and Commercial Drive, we see a micro picture of our nations and our ...

27 October 2013 - Priesthood Sunday Shared Homily Starter 1 st Reading:        Sirach 35:15-17, 20-22 2 nd Reading:       2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Gospel:                         Luke 18:9-14 Today is priesthood Sunday.   The thread that weaves through today’s readings is humility:   Humility in prayer, humility in actions and relationships.   Last Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend the liturgy for the installation of a local pastor.   During the service the Archbishop read the functions of a pastor from Canon 519, specifically “he carries out the functions of teaching, sanctifying, and governing.”   Obviously, I disagree with Canon 1024 that says, “Only a baptized man can validly receive sacred ordination” but I also disagree with the two of the three functions of a p...

Shared Homily Starter 2 Maccabees 7.1-2, 7, 9-14 2 Thessalonians 2.16 – 3.5 Luke 20.27-38 The Second Book of Maccabees describes the struggle of the Jews for religious, cultural, and political independence from the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes.   Antiochus kingdom included present day Afghanistan , Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon and more.   He was a Greek, who by violence and persecution, sought to suppress the Jewish religion in his kingdom.     But the point of this book is to convey religious ideas or principles rather than historical facts.   Today’s reading shows that the some Jews believed in the idea of resurrection.     In the New Testament, we learn that the Pharisees did but the Sadducees did not.   More importantly, the message of today’s reading is that one should remain faithful to God even in the face of torture and death.   These Jewish brothers didn’t give up their lives only because of hope in ...